Innovative Approaches in Cancer Immunotherapy: Types and Benefits
Discover the latest immunotherapy strategies for cancer treatment, including non-specific therapies, CAR T-cell therapy, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and oncolytic viruses. These innovative approaches empower the immune system to target and eliminate cancer effectively, offering hope for improved outcomes.
Exploring Various Methods of Cancer Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, also known as biologic therapy, uses specially designed substances—either naturally produced by the body or synthesized in labs—to enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer. Its goal is to strengthen the body's defenses to eliminate existing tumor cells, halt tumor growth, and prevent metastasis.
The main categories of immunotherapy include:
Non-specific immunotherapies: Agents like interleukins and interferons boost immune responses, working alongside other treatments or independently, especially effective in melanoma and kidney cancers.
T-cell Therapy: T-cells, vital immune cells, are modified in the lab with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to target cancer cells more precisely. The engineered cells are then infused into patients to seek and destroy tumors.
Cancer Vaccines: Vaccines designed to stimulate the immune system against cancer include treatment and preventive vaccines, exposing the body to antigens to foster immune attack.
Monoclonal Antibodies: These lab-produced antibodies, such as Avelumab and Pembrolizumab, target specific tumor proteins, facilitating immune recognition and destruction. They also inhibit immune checkpoints that tumors exploit to evade immune responses.
Oncolytic Virus Therapy: Genetically modified viruses like T-VEC are injected directly into tumors. They infect and kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues, prompting the immune system to clear the tumor.
